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Deana Barnhart is kinda like Chuck Norris. When she's not raising kids, writing novels, spotlighting new authors or providing resources for aspiring writers, she's dreaming up brilliant ways for all of us to build our platforms, get connected and reach out to each other to make this blogging world a friendlier place.

Her latest brainchild is her "Gearing Up to Get an Agent" July Blogfest, which spotlights agent-grabbing elements (platform building, learning the craft, the novel and queries) in a unique and interactive way. Here is our topic for Week One, and check out her blog, DeanaBarnhart , for more information or to join in on the fun.

WEEK ONE: "I Just had to ask..."What burning questions (about writing of course) do you have? It doesn't matter how ridiculous you think it may be, just ask. Post the question on your blog and we will hop around the blogs trying to help each other out. Discussions about topics on writing can really pump you up for your novel, plus you can make connections, follow one another, brainstorm platform building ideas...whatever. This will be our time to ease into the blogfest and get to know one another.
Here are my questions, and I would looooove to hear your feedback, whether or not you are participating in the blogfest:1. How long is too long for a young adult novel? Mine is a young adult mystery / urban fantasy, and I'm pushing 100,000 words, which I feel may be a little long. According to QueryTracker, it seems like most young adult novels are approximately 70,000-80,000 words, but I once heard urban fantasies tend to run a little long, so I'm not sure if I should cut back my word count or not. What do you think?

2. Which avenues have been most effective to network and spread the word about your blog? I'm an active member of QueryTracker and GoodReads; I also occasionally post on SheWrites and AbsoluteWrite. I find a lot of new blogging buddies through existing blogging buddies' recommendations, and I usually troll around and read others' posts for good ideas. I'm not crazy about Twitter yet, and I've mostly kept my Facebook page to my non-writing life, but I'm definitely open to suggestions. How did YOU find the majority of your followers?That's all for now, I think. Thanks in advance for your help!

Lisa Ann O'Kane is a young adult author and former vagabond who once camped out in Yosemite National Park for an entire summer, an experience that inspired her debut novel Essence (Strange Chemistry, June 2014).